I just received DVDs of the BBC documentary series Planet Earth and the History Channel's The Universe, and I have to say I'm really impressed with them. They are both very informative and visually impressive.

My daughter has not stopped watching them since they arrived this afternoon (literally!) and it has inspired her to start writing a "book" about the universe.

If you get a chance to see them or rent them, I highly recommend them both. (They are available on DVD but both are quite pricey.)

The Universe: http://imdb.com/title/tt1051155/

Planet Earth: http://imdb.com/title/tt0795176/

Museling

04-09-2010, 10:47 PM

We love the series as well -it's one of the few nature programs that Logan will sit through. I wonder if they're doing a british version of the Life series because Oprah's voice is a little 'meh' to me personally -lol, something about the british accents just makes it feel smarter and more thoughtful (....and this is why I am in love with Tom Baker, Patrick Stewart and David Tennett)

camaro

04-09-2010, 10:49 PM

While I haven't seen The Universe, I did get the box set of Planet Earth (the version with David Attenborough narrating. US version has Sigourney Weaver) last year and it's stunning. Getting three young boys to sit still long enough to watch something Dad tells them to can be a challenge but PE usually works. :)

Snoopy

04-09-2010, 10:51 PM

Also, the Disney movie "Disney's Earth" was pretty good and the new one "Disney's Oceans (http://disney.go.com/disneynature/oceans/)" is opening in a couple of weeks... (on Earth Day, to be precise). I might even pay to see that one in IMAX if it's available...

JinxieFox

04-10-2010, 12:36 AM

Glad to hear good things about "The Universe". I just saw it at our library, and was not sure whether or not to check it out, since we are doing astronomy this year. Next time, I will bring it home! I'm not sure if it will hold my 7-year-old's attention, but it is worth a try!

Shoe

04-10-2010, 12:44 AM

It held my 11 year old's attention, which surprised me, though she has had some slight interest in astronomy in the past (a few times, she's stayed up really late to view the Perseid meteor showers, and she likes to walk the dog with me late at night to look at the stars). The only one she didn't like was the very first episode about the Sun...she found that boring, but by the next one (Mars) and the rest, she was absolutely entranced.

Snoopy

04-10-2010, 12:52 AM

You know, this year we studied Space as well, and we also attended a concert for young people by the Orlando Symphonic Orchestra. One of the pieces they played was "Jupiter" by Gustav Holst, which is part of "The Planets (http://www.amazon.com/Holst-Planets-Gustav/dp/B0000041S7)" by the same composer. It's a lovely piece of music (the Amazon sample doesn't really make it justice) and it spurred us to borrow the CD from the library and listen to the whole thing. It's one of Noah's very favorite musical pieces now. There was also a video at our library of a performance of The Planets with pictoral depictions of what each planet might represent, but that wasn't too interesting beyond the music.

Riceball_Mommy

04-10-2010, 11:01 AM

I watched part of the Planet Earth series when it was on tv, and when I was in the geography class we watched one on caves. Eventually I may get the series. I'll have to look into "The Universe" as well.

hjdong

04-10-2010, 11:50 AM

James (7 yo) loves The Universe. He's not so hot on The Earth though, he'll watch it, but he's always waiting for a hunt scene.

Snoopy

04-12-2010, 11:07 PM

I just saw a blog post (http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/04/planet-earth-on-itunes-get-1st-episode.html) that says that the 1st episode of Planet Earth is free on Itunes until Earth Day...

Shoe

04-13-2010, 12:16 PM

but he's always waiting for a hunt scene.Well, those hunt scenes are pretty impressive...watching that snow leopard leap off the cliff, or those wild dogs chasing their prey into the river...what boy would not want to see that??

Topsy

04-13-2010, 10:06 PM

We love the series as well -it's one of the few nature programs that Logan will sit through. I wonder if they're doing a british version of the Life series because Oprah's voice is a little 'meh' to me personally -lol, something about the british accents just makes it feel smarter and more thoughtful (....and this is why I am in love with Tom Baker, Patrick Stewart and David Tennett)

SO glad I wasn't the only one who thought that!! I kept wishing the whole time I was watching Life that it was David Attenborough (affectionately known around our house as the "guy who sounds like Winnie the Pooh") narrating. We Americans just can't make it sound the same, can we??

Shoe

04-13-2010, 10:30 PM

SO glad I wasn't the only one who thought that!! I kept wishing the whole time I was watching Life that it was David Attenborough (affectionately known around our house as the "guy who sounds like Winnie the Pooh") narrating. We Americans just can't make it sound the same, can we??It looks like the version narrated by David Attenborough will be released in the USA on June 1. Here's a link to the product on Amazon: Life-Narrated by David Attenborough (http://www.amazon.com/Life-narrated-David-Attenborough/dp/B002UXRGLG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1271208419&sr=1-5) - I'm excited by that!

Topsy

04-14-2010, 11:28 AM

Seriously???? I feel like one of the people in those Windows 7 ads now...I ask for it, and they do it. Oh the power!!! Off to figure out what to ask for next with my new ability. I'll TRY not to use it for evil, but I can't make any guarantees.... :p

crstarlette

04-17-2010, 04:48 PM

Also, the Disney movie "Disney's Earth" was pretty good and the new one "Disney's Oceans (http://disney.go.com/disneynature/oceans/)" is opening in a couple of weeks... (on Earth Day, to be precise). I might even pay to see that one in IMAX if it's available...

We're hoping to see Disney's Oceans in the IMAX too!:D We're not sure if they'll have it, and we'll have to drive 2 1/2 hours, but we're hoping.

Wilma

04-19-2010, 04:18 PM

We love The Universe. We are getting it from Netflix. I'll have to check out the others.

CroppinMom

04-20-2010, 08:43 PM

We bought the BBC set of Planet Earth at Christmas time for Matt and he LOVES it - it is one of our favorite things to watch around here. I have to agree about David Attenborough too. He makes them that much better. Can't wait for LIFE to be released in June.